India vs Australia: A Thrilling Showdown in Women's ODI World Cup 2025

Exciting Clash Ahead

On Sunday, October 12, the highly anticipated match between Team India and the reigning champions, Australia, will take place at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam during the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025.

India kicked off their World Cup journey with two impressive victories against Sri Lanka and Pakistan but faced their first setback against South Africa. Meanwhile, Australia secured wins against New Zealand and Pakistan, with their match against Sri Lanka being washed out due to rain.

Both teams are entering this match with strong momentum and high stakes, eager to establish their dominance in the tournament.

Concerns for India: Smriti Mandhana's Form and Middle-Order Issues

As India looks to recover from their defeat against South Africa, they face some pressing concerns. Opener and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has struggled recently, scoring 8, 23, and 23 in her last three outings, averaging just 18.

Her inconsistency has placed additional pressure on her opening partner, Pratika Rawal, and the middle-order, which has had to shoulder more responsibility to stabilize the innings. Mandhana's return to form is crucial for India as they face a formidable Australian team.

In the match against South Africa, India’s middle-order collapsed dramatically, going from 83/2 to 102/6, losing four wickets for just 19 runs. Richa Ghosh's efforts were vital in rescuing the team from a precarious position. A similar collapse occurred in the opener against Sri Lanka, where they fell from 120/3 to 124/6.

To overcome Australia’s strong bowling attack, which features Megan Schutt and Ash Gardner, India must address these middle-order vulnerabilities.

Australia's Dominance and Power-Packed Line-up

Australia, the defending champions, are a formidable force in the Women’s World Cup 2025, remaining unbeaten alongside England. Their squad is filled with world-class talent in both batting and bowling.

In their last match against Pakistan, Australia faced a batting collapse but was rescued by Beth Mooney, who scored 109, helping the team recover from a difficult position. The bowlers then effectively dismissed Pakistan for just 114, securing a 107-run victory.

Despite the batting struggles against Pakistan, Australia will aim to avoid a repeat performance against India. With experienced players like Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, and Tahila McGrath, along with Mooney's excellent form, they will seek to regain their batting rhythm.

Australia's bowling attack, led by Annabel Sutherland and Megan Schutt, along with spinners Ashleigh Gardner and Alana King, has shown impressive consistency, dismantling opponents in previous matches.

Head-to-Head: India vs Australia

The upcoming match marks the 60th encounter between India and Australia in Women’s ODI cricket. Historically, Australia has dominated, winning 48 out of 59 matches, while India has secured victory only 11 times.

Their most recent clash saw Australia defeat India by 43 runs in the final ODI of a series, clinching it 2-1. However, India achieved a memorable victory over Australia in the 2017 World Cup semifinal, where Harmanpreet Kaur scored a stunning 171 runs.

In Women’s World Cup history, India and Australia have faced each other 13 times, with Australia winning 10 of those encounters, while India has triumphed three times, including the iconic 2017 semifinal.

Match Prediction

The clash between India and Australia is set to be another thrilling encounter, following the excitement of India vs Pakistan and Australia vs New Zealand. Both teams are expected to bring their best to this highly anticipated match.

Australia enters as the favorite due to their strong squad and historical head-to-head advantage. However, playing at home could benefit India, provided their top and middle-order batters perform well on a batting-friendly pitch. The spinners, including Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana, will play a crucial role in exploiting any turn.

If openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal can establish a solid partnership and the middle order remains stable, India has the potential to challenge Australia’s dominance and possibly pull off an upset.